Anyone lulled into thinking the general election will be a polite and friendly race obviously hasn't been listening to Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama lately.
At an airport rally in California yesterday, the New York Times notes McCain mocked Obama as a "young man" with "very little experience." He went on: "For his very, very great lack of
experience and knowledge of the issues, he's been very successful."
Of course, as CNN notes, Obama also referred to McCain's age a few weeks ago suggesting the Republican was "losing his bearings" for suggesting a terrorist group actually supported Obama's candidacy.
Now, NBC News suggests the rivalry is getting personal. "Speaking of McCain, he's clearly is not a fan of Obama... Has Obama gotten
under McCain's skin? McCain has reserved some of his most sarcastic
barbs for the Illinois senator. Forget the shots he enjoyed taking at
Romney during the primary; that was beanbag. His disdain for Obama is
crystal clear every day on the trail."
![[RSS]](http://67.192.49.194/templates/images/rss_icon.gif){kind=icon}
Comments
You wrote "Of course, as CNN notes, Obama also referred to McCain's age a few weeks ago suggesting the Republican was "losing his bearings".."
False, it was a reference to navigation terminology not to age. Just because Mark Salter says something with a straight face does not make it true.
1) "Losing bearings" is a term used in aviation and navigation. It does not mean "getting old" or "going crazy," it means losing ones way navigationally. McCain knows this even if Mark Salter does not.
2) The construction "Losing [noun]" is used for many things that have nothing to do with age or mental facility: "losing your cookies," "losing your religion," "losing your cool" are all things one could say that mean something totally distinct from "losing your mind.." If someone said McCain was losing his cool would that be about his age or his anger problem?
Obama wasn't even making a reference to age and it's silly to buy into McCain's thin-skinned reaction.
Posted by: flazpo
| May 23, 2008 11:49 AM
You're drinking the McCain cool-aid. Obama never referred to McCain's age, though the McCain campaign and the Republicans have tried to put that out there in a viral campaign. Obama said he was "losing his bearings" in reference to the international scene. The phrase you are referring to, to indicate advanced age and dementia, is "losing his marbles". These have two different meanings in colloquial American English. Marbles and bearings are both small round things, this is true, but to confuse the two phrases is to severely mix one's metaphors, in itself perhaps an indication that McCain is truly losing his marbles.
Posted by: Abdul Muhib
| May 23, 2008 12:46 PM
I am not sure that I buy this argument. First, McCain has a temper and it tends to show when he is criticized. I doubt this is more than that. Second, McCain and Obama have generally been about as close as senators with decades of different experience from opposite parties can be.
Nonetheless, I would be shocked if this is not a pretty tough battle. The Democrats are as angry this time as the Republicans were when Clinton was President and I have my doubts that they will not be just as tough as the Republicans.
Posted by: cwlidz
| May 23, 2008 12:54 PM
"You're beginning to believe this illusion we're spinning here…"
Paddy Chayefsky
Posted by: Your Name Here
| May 23, 2008 7:38 PM
They'll be kissing ass and naming names.
Direct Democracy
Posted by: Your Name Here
| May 23, 2008 7:41 PM
Post A Comment